"As we considered the cumulative effect of what humankind does to the ocean the implications became far worse than we had individually realised. This is a very serious situation demanding unequivocal action at every level. We are looking at consequences for humankind that will impact in our lifetime and, worse, our children's and generations beyond that."

Mass extinction events have happened before in earth's history, and there has long been some debate about their causes. There is a mass extinction event unfolding right now in our oceans and conditions are very similar to those of prior such events. This time, however, the causes are directly observable and crystal clear. On a physical level, the causes are rising atmospheric carbon dioxide being absorbed into the ocean, over-fishing, and using the ocean as a garbage dump. The cause is a continuing failure to make sustainability of our oceans a priority. On a different level, it is another manifestation of the tragedy of the commons, the despoiling by private interests of public resources. At a basic level, indeed a base level, it is sheer cupidity. When will we realize that the profits of a few do not (or must not) come at the cost of permanent destruction on a global scale?